Kevin Ward Jr. was struck and killed by Tony Stewart's car Saturday night in an incident at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park in Canandaigua, N.Y. / KevinWardRacing.com

by Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Ward Jr. was remembered Sunday by his neighbors and sprint car series officials as a racer with prodigious talent and no acrimonious past with Tony Stewart.

"There's no history with these two drivers," Chuck Miller, the race director and president for the Empire Super Sprints circuit. "That's the competitive nature of the game and the drivers around it. Any time Tony has raced with us, Kevin also raced. Tony's been good for us."

Ward was killed Saturday night when he was struck by Stewart's car at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, where both were racing 360 sprint cars in the ESS. Miller said it was the "fifth or sixth" time that Stewart had raced on the circuit over the past four years. Ward had been spun by Stewart and approached the three-time Sprint Cup champion's car under caution when he was hit.

Miller said Ward won the ESS rookie of the year award as a 16-year-old in 2010, finishing seventh in the points standings. He had won four times since then, and his family was involved with sponsoring awards for the ESS (which races at 18 tracks across the northeast and in Montreal) and hosting indoor go-kart races.

"Kevin was a prolific winner in go karts at all levels," Miller said. "He showed a lot of promise and talent. ... On the track, you couldn't tell him apart from a veteran. He had that kind of talent.

"His family has been real supportive of our organization and racing in general."

Bruce and Tammy Branagan of Port Leyden N.Y., lived about a half-mile from Ward's family. Kevin often would ride his 4-wheeler or snowmobile on the roads and asked for the Branagans' permission to ride on their property.

"He asked if he could go through on his 4-wheeler," Bruce Branagan said. "He always had to have the loudest one."

Don Gydesen of neighboring Lyons Falls said, "everybody around here knows Kevin. He was an upcoming driver. Sometime, he probably would have been in the big-time."

Miller said Ward was in the 15-car crash that Stewart triggered last year at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, which left driver Alysha Ruggles, 19, with a compression fracture in her back

"I knew Kevin at the track and after the races," Miller said. "He was a good kid."

In a statement Sunday to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Ward's family said, "The family appreciates all the prayers and support and would like time to grieve at this point."

Stewart removed himself from Sunday's race at Watkins Glen, putting Regan Smith in the No. 14 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing.

"There aren't words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr.," Stewart said in a release. "It's a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I've decided not to participate in today's race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy."

In a news conference Sunday afternoon, Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said the investigation had been reviewed with the district attorney, and there was "no evidence in hand or no facts" to support criminal charges or intent. The investigation remains ongoing with a goal of reconstructing the crash. Povero said eyewitness testimony and video is being solicited.